Crossword Genius

Have police hesitation in drinking it? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cider

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'have' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.

'police hesitation in drinking it?' is the wordplay.
'police' becomes 'CID' (abbreviation for Criminal Investigation Department).
'hesitation in' becomes 'r' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'drinking' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are consumed or drunk).
'it?' becomes 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT').
'cid'+'r'='cidr'
'cidr' placed around 'e' is 'CIDER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cider that I've seen before include "Beverage from apple juice" , "Alcoholic drink from fermented apple juice" , "Drink made from fermented apples" , "Apple-based drink" , "Apple-based beverage" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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